Author: Carolina Rivas

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025 – Blake Fahlbusch of the United States was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after leading his team to an undefeated championship run at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

USA clinched their third consecutive U19 Pan Am Cup gold medal, sweeping Mexico 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, with a dominant team performance throughout the tournament. Mexico, backed by a passionate home crowd, proudly took the silver medal, while Canada captured its first-ever bronze at the event with a straight-sets win over Venezuela.

Blake Fahlbusch was joined by teammates who also collected multiple awards: Isiah Powell earned 1st Best Blocker, Benjamin Bayer was recognized as Best Receiver, and Dante Cayaban claimed Best Server honors.

Mexico’s Carlos Grajeda and Emi Diaz were recognized as the 1st and 2nd Best Spikers, respectively, after strong performances throughout the tournament.

Fernando Castello of Puerto Rico earned the award for 2nd Best Blocker, highlighting his defensive contributions at the net.

Chile had a standout showing in individual awards, with Juan Pablo Espinoza named Best Setter, Joaquin Valjalo earning both Best Opposite and Best Scorer, and Esteban Castillo receiving the Best Digger award.

Rolando Bello of Venezuela rounded out the award recipients as the tournament’s Best Libero, demonstrating solid defensive skills.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – The United States achieved a remarkable third consecutive gold medal at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, sweeping host nation Mexico 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

USA’s dominance in the tournament continues, having now won three straight titles, in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and four overall medals in the history of the event (3 gold, 1 bronze).

This was Mexico’s fifth consecutive appearance in the gold medal match, and although they were strongly supported by an energetic home crowd, they fell short once again. Mexico’s only title came in 2017 against Chile; since then, they’ve collected four silver medals (2019, 2022, 2023, 2025).

After two tightly contested sets, the United States surged to a commanding 14-8 lead in the third and never looked back. USA held a significant edge in attacks (45-29) and blocks (11-4), while also leading 2-1 in aces, however they committed more errors than Mexico (25 to 17).

Three U.S. players scored in double digits: Blake Fahlbusch led all scorers with 17 points (15 kills, 2 blocks); Corbin Batista added 15 kills and Isiah Powell contributed 11 points (5 kills, 6 blocks).

Mexico’s top performer was Carlos Grajeda, who scored 13 points.

Team captain Brett Novak reflected on the experience: “It feels unbelievable. We only had one week of training together before coming here. This team has come together so well, especially over the last four days, we just got better and better, playing as a group. The crowd really got into it in the first two sets; they were very energetic, and we loved it, it got us going.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Canada captured its first-ever medal in the history of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Venezuela in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-18) on Sunday at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

Canada came out strong, taking early control of the match by dominating the first set. Venezuela responded with intensity, especially in the second set, but the Canadians remained composed and closed the match in three sets to secure the bronze medal.

A dominant attacking performance gave Canada the edge, with a 44-23 advantage in kills. Both teams recorded eight blocks, and Canada held a slight lead in service aces (4-3). In errors, the count was nearly even, with Canada committing 23 and Venezuela 20.

Opposite Lukas Wright led all scorers with 18 points for Canada, followed by outside hitter Mason Lage with 11 and middle blocker Simon Oberbuchner contributing 10. Venezuela’s top scorer was Ángel Matute with 7 points.

Canadian head coach Taylor Jordan reflected on the significance of the moment: “For us, we just wanted to live in the moment. This is the last day that this group is playing together, to enjoy being a team for one last day, one last match. Maybe it was less about the bronze and more about us being one big Canadian family. In terms of success, our reception was phenomenal, and that gave us an opportunity to play”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Puerto Rico secured a hard-fought fifth-place finish at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup with a thrilling five-set victory over Chile, 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12), on Sunday at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

In a marathon match that lasted over two hours, both teams battled with intensity, exchanging long rallies and fierce net play. Puerto Rico rallied from an 8-11 deficit in the decisive fifth set, tying the score and gaining momentum with a final push of effective blocking to close the match 15-12.

Puerto Rico outblocked Chile 12-10 and capitalized on 38 Chilean errors while committing 24 of their own. Chile held the edge in attacking points, 71-57, and points from serves, 3-1.

Jean Paul González led Puerto Rico with 22 points, all on kills. Gustavo Álvarez added 18 points, and Fernando Castello contributed 14 points, including a match-high of 7 blocks.

Chile’s best performer was once again Joaquín Valjalo, who topped all scorers with 26 points. He was supported by Francisco Briones (18 points), Joaquín Cassanova (16), and Mateo Sanz (13).

Juan Albarrán, head coach of Puerto Rico, said, “It was a great match, and the fans really enjoyed it. For us, it was extremely important to leave here with this fifth-place finish, because of what it means to win at this moment and, emotionally, what lies ahead next week: the FIVB U19 World Championship.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Panama secured a hard-fought seventh-place finish at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after edging Suriname in a thrilling five-set battle, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 12-25, 25-22, 15-8) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

In a roller coaster of a match, Panama claimed revenge after falling to Suriname in the preliminary round. This time, they came out on top by leading in kills (64-53) and aces (5-2). Suriname held the advantage in blocks (11-7) and committed fewer errors (23 to Panama’s 33).

Panama’s Wen Downer delivered a tournament-high of 29 points at the moment, powering the team’s offense. He was supported by Kendrieck Newby, who chipped in with 18 points in the victory.

For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar led with 21 points, followed by Gianni Ritfeld with 17. Both Jahmit Jambo and Revelino Sandel contributed 10 points each.

Horacio Angulo, head coach of Panama, spoke after the match: “We tried the entire match to beat them, we went for it, and we did it. This was a very tough tournament, and our team is new and young. I’m grateful for the boys’ effort. We didn’t want to finish in last place, and we achieved that.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025. – Mexico secured its place in the final of the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup after an exciting four-set victory (25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 29-27) over Venezuela at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

This marks the fifth consecutive time that Mexico has reached the gold medal match in the history of the tournament, having won the title only once, in 2017 against Chile. In the 2019, 2022, and 2023 finals, Mexico fell to Cuba and the United States, respectively. Now, playing at home, they will look to break that streak.

Venezuela will face Canada in the third-place match.

The ending could not have been more dramatic, as Venezuela tried to force a tie-break, but a decisive block by Carlos Grajeda sealed the Mexican victory with a thrilling 29-27 score in the fourth set.

Mexico led in attacks (62-48) and service aces (5-1), while Venezuela dominated at the net with more blocks (14-9). Mexico committed more unforced errors, 31 against Venezuela’s 22.

Arnoldo Hurtado led Mexico’s offense with 21 points (18 attacks, 2 blocks), followed by Emi Díaz with 15 and Carlos Grajeda with 13. For Venezuela, Neyver Zabala scored 13 points, while Gandy Lugo and Harold Larez added 12 each.

At the end of the match, Mexico’s head coach Iván Nieto said: “It was a very tough match. Our opposite hitter, Arnoldo Hurtado, got injured in the final points of the game. It was dramatic, but we made it through with five players. I’m very happy to reach the final”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025.– The United States is one step closer to achieving a hat-trick at the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup, advancing to their third consecutive gold medal match after a commanding 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-17) semifinal victory over Canada at the UAEM Gymnasium.

Having won the last two editions of the tournament, Puerto Rico and Guatemala, Team USA continued its dominant run by outperforming Canada in kills (37-28), blocks (6-5), and aces (4-1). The Americans also capitalized on 28 Canadian errors, while giving away 19 of their own.

Corbin Batista led the U.S. scoring effort with 14 points, while Jarom Rowin was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points.

Speaking about the team’s performance, U.S. head coach Jonah Carson said, “The team we played today (Canada) put a lot of pressure on us, playing some really savvy volleyball and challenging us tactically. I’m really proud of our guys for the way they responded, staying involved in the process and playing for USA Volleyball.”

The United States now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between Mexico and Venezuela, with the chance to secure a third straight U19 Pan American Cup title.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025.- With an outstanding offensive performance, opposite hitter Joaquín Valjalo led Chile with 26 points in a 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-13) victory over Panama at the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup, taking place at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium and concluding this Sunday.

Valjalo has been Chile’s standout player in all their matches, and with his 26-point performance – the highest in the tournament so far – he is emerging as one of the top scorers of the event. Chile also had contributions by Mateo Sanz with 15 points and Joaquín Cassanova with 13.

Chile moves on to the fifth-place match, where they will face Puerto Rico. Panama will compete for seventh place against Suriname.

After dropping the first two sets, Panama came back strongly in the third, using a more aggressive approach that allowed them to build a five-point lead (14-9) and extend the match. However, Chile regained control in the fourth to secure the win convincingly.

Chile dominated in attack with a 56-37 advantage and outperformed Panama in service aces, 9-7. Despite committing more unforced errors (26 to 24), Panama only managed a slight edge in blocks, 8-7.

For Panama, Wen Downer and Diego Sánchez led with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Reflecting on the match, Valjalo commented, “We lost the third set because, in general, we came in with a low rhythm and little intensity after losing a very important match yesterday. In the end, we pulled off the win.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025. – Puerto Rico advanced to the fifth-place match at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Suriname in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-16) on Saturday at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) in Cuernavaca.

The Puerto Rican team will face the winner of the match between Panama and Chile on Sunday, the final day of the tournament.

Despite some ups and downs, Puerto Rico managed to stop Suriname’s comeback attempt in the second set, staying on course to secure a straight-set victory.

The Boricuas led in attacks (42-32) and blocks (13-6). Both teams scored two aces, while Puerto Rico committed fewer unforced errors (16 compared to Suriname’s 18).

Outside hitter Gustavo Álvarez led all scorers with 16 points (14 attacks, one block, one ace), followed by team captain Jean Paul González with 14 points (10 attacks, 4 blocks). Middle blocker Fernando Castello also contributed 10 points, standing out with a match-high 6 blocks.

For Suriname, Gianni Ritfeld led the offense with 14 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace), and Javier Nasibdar added 10 points.

Puerto Rican libero Ignacio Cruz shared his thoughts after the win: “There were ups and downs in all three sets, but I think Suriname made some good adjustments in the second set, especially on defense. In the end, we came out with the win, and tomorrow we’ll give it everything we’ve got to finish strong.”

The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup concludes Sunday with the final placement matches.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 11, 2025.- Canada secured a spot in the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Chile in four sets (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19) at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) in Cuernavaca.

Canada moves on to face the United States in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Mexico will take on Venezuela. Chile will face Panama in the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.

After dropping the first two sets, Chile responded with a strong performance in the third, significantly improving their blocking and defense. In the fourth set, the South Americans fought to come back from a six-point deficit (14-20), but their effort fell short against Canada’s momentum.

Canada led the match in attacks 55-41, in blocks 11-7 and 2-1 in aces. However, they committed more unforced errors than Chile, 29 to 26.

Outside hitter Mason Lange led the Canadian offense with 16 points, including 14 kills and 2 blocks. Three other players scored in double digits: opposite Jarom Rowin (14), middle blocker Cameron Hutt (13), and fellow middle Simon Oberbuchner (12).

For Chile, opposite Joaquín Valjalo, tallied a match-high of 18 points. Mateo Sanz added 10 points.

Taylor Jordan, Head Coach of Canada, on the third set against Chile: “Our opponent played much better in that set. Sometimes, it’s less about what you’re doing and more about recognizing the performance on the other side. Their opposite, Joaquin Valjalo, was phenomenal, and their libero was flawless with his digs.”

Speaking about his own team, he added: “Our brotherhood and team culture really showed today. We’re trying to build a new group that hasn’t played together before, and we finally started to see that family aspect come together. Some of our leaders stepped up — we were hungry, and we got rewarded for it”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 11, 2025.- Venezuela moved into the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Suriname in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-17) on Friday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

Venezuela now awaits the result of the quarterfinal matchup between Canada and Chile to determine their semifinal opponent. Suriname, meanwhile, will move on to the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.

Venezuela displayed a dominant and consistent performance throughout the match, outperforming Suriname across all key areas.

Venezuela led in kills (44-21), blocks (13-5), and aces (6-0). Despite committing 21 unforced errors, against 12 from Suriname.

Opposite hitter Yoisbel Galeno led the Venezuelan offense with 13 points, including 10 kills and 3 blocks. Teammates Neyver Zabala and Harold Alonso Larez added 10 points each in the victory.

For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar was the top scorer with 13 points, recording 12 kills and one block.

Yoisbel Galeno, the match’s top scorer, said after the victory: “Our intention was to be dominant, and we achieved that. It was a good match for the entire team, and we hope to continue like this in the semifinals. The group stage matches were excellent and gave us a lot of experience to reach this stage of the tournament with more confidence”.

The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup continues Saturday with semifinal action in Cuernavaca.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025. – Host Mexico secured a direct berth to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Chile 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 29-27) on Thursday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

Mexico closed the preliminary round undefeated at the top of Pool B. Chile, finishing second in the group with a 2-1 record, will face Canada in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Mexico displayed composure and control in the second set and rallied from behind in the third. The dramatic final set saw Chile reaching set point first at 24-23. However, Mexico’s attacking power proved decisive, closing the set in extended play to seal the sweep.

The host team’s offensive skill was evident with a 50-38 advantage in kills. Chile led in blocks (8-7), and both teams scored two points from the service line. Errors were nearly identical, with Mexico committing 21 and Chile 20.

Mexican outside hitter Emi Díaz led all scorers with 19 points on 18 kills and one ace. Opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado added 13 points (12 kills, one block), while Carlos Grajeda chipped in 11 points (10 kills, one block).

For Chile, Joaquín Valjalo was the lone scorer in double digits, recording 13 points from 12 kills and one block.

Mexico now awaits its semifinal opponent as the knockout phase of the tournament begins.

Emi Díaz, the match’s top scorer, said, “We stayed calm and went point by point until we secured the win in straight sets. Our serves let us down, but we’re going to improve them for the upcoming matches. Tomorrow we’ll rest so we can come into the semifinal with full strength.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025 .– Suriname booked their place in the quarterfinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Panama in four sets 3-1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-13) in their final Pool B match at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

With the win, Suriname secured third place in Pool B and will face Venezuela in Friday’s quarterfinals. Panama, finishing fourth in the group, will compete for positions 5 to 8.

Both teams came out energized, knowing a win would advance them to the next stage. The match featured intense rallies, dynamic net play, and strong crowd engagement. Panama took the opening set with aggressive attacking and solid defense, but Suriname responded adjusting their block and defensive structure in the second set.

The turning point came in the fourth set, where Suriname stormed to an 11-3 lead, capitalizing on Panama’s errors and maintaining control through strong blocking.

Suriname’s blocking proved decisive, outscoring Panama 11-2 in that category. Panama committed 30 unforced errors, while Suriname had 22. Panama led in attacks 52-47, and both teams scored three aces.

Outside hitters Javier Nasibdar and Gianni Ritfeld were Suriname’s top scorers with 17 points each, while middle blocker Jahmit Jambo added 10. Panama’s captain Kendrieck Newby led his team with 17 points, supported by Wen Downer with 14.

Suriname head coach Furgil Ong-A-Fat reflected on the victory: “We had a tough start against Chile, then Mexico, and today we finally got a win. To keep the momentum for tomorrow’s quarterfinal, we must continue with our blocking, that was the key today, along with solid defense”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025. – The United States secured a direct berth to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after dominating Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) in their final Pool A match on Thursday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

With this result, Team USA finishes pool play undefeated at 3-0, marking their third consecutive straight-set victory and advancing directly to Saturday’s semifinal round. Puerto Rico, finishing fourth in Pool A, will compete in the 5th-8th classification matches. Venezuela secured second place and Canada finished third, both advancing to Friday’s quarterfinals.

The United States outperformed Puerto Rico in every scoring category: 42-34 in kills, 9-4 in blocks, and 6-5 in aces. They also committed fewer errors (17) compared to Puerto Rico’s 18.

Outside hitter Kale Cochran led all scorers with 14 points for the U.S., followed by opposite Corbin Batista with 11 and middle blocker Dante Cayaban with 10. Gustavo Alvarez was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with seven points.

U.S. middle blocker Brodie Heshler, who sealed the match with a block, shared his excitement: “It’s my first time being out of the country being part of the U.S. national team and feels great, it’s a big moment. I loved the ending match. We have a bunch of good players. The U.S. is very physical, and on top of that, we have a great libero who passes every ball perfectly. Overall, we’re a good team.”

Puerto Rico’s head coach, Juan Albarrán, shared his thoughts on the preliminary round:
“I think the first two group matches were within reach; out of the six sets we played, four ended at 23 points, meaning we were in the fight the whole time. We were in a tough group with four strong teams, and this tournament serves as a learning experience for the World Championship. Facing these teams gives us a great level of preparation for what lies ahead.”

The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup continues Friday with quarterfinal action, as teams compete for a spot in the medal rounds.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025.– Venezuela secured a hard-fought 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22) victory over Canada in their final Pool A match at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, held at the UAEM Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

With this result, Venezuela closes the preliminary round with a 2-1 win-loss record, while Canada finishes 1-2. Both teams await final seeding ahead of the knockout stage.

Canada mounted a strong comeback in the third set after trailing by two sets, improving both their defensive reads and offensive execution. However, Venezuela responded with a reorganized effort in the fourth set to seal the match in four.

Venezuela held advantages in attacks (51-44), blocks (11-10), and aces (6-4). Canada committed fewer unforced errors, 23 to Venezuela’s 33.

Venezuela’s top scorer was outside hitter Neyver Manuel Zabala, who tallied 15 points on 11 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. He was supported by middle blocker Angel Matute, who contributed 12 points (7 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace), and outside hitter Gandy Lugo, who added 11 points all from kills.

Canada was led by team captain Marcus Barrett, who also scored 15 points. Middle blockers Simon Oberbuchner and Cameron Hutt contributed 12 and 10 points respectively.

Venezuela’s head coach, Iván Nieto: “The game plan was executed as expected; we only failed in the third set when Canada managed to break our reception line and gained an early lead. We also struggled with ball distribution, and they were well positioned to anticipate where we were going to pass. In the fourth set, we made the necessary adjustments, changing our middle attack and serving strategy, corrected our reception, and that gave the team the stability to move forward.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – Mexico will play for the top spot in Pool A and a direct ticket to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup when they take on Chile, as both teams remained undefeated after two days of competition at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

The Mexican team defeated Suriname in four sets on Wednesday, 25-23, 25-16, 22-25, 25-11, earning their second straight win (2-0), the same record as Chile. Their upcoming matchup will determine the group winner and the direct qualification to the semifinals.

Suriname (0-2), on the other hand, will face Panama (0-2) in a decisive game for third place in the group and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Mexico dominated the match with a significant advantage in attacks (57-30), while Suriname outperformed the hosts in blocks (13-8) and service aces (4-1). Mexico committed 28 unforced errors, compared to 31 by Suriname.

Opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado led the Mexican offense with 15 points, all on kills, followed by team captain Carlos Grajeda, who contributed 14 points (11 kills, 3 blocks).

For Suriname, top scorers were Javier Nasibdar and Gianni Ritfeld with 11 points each. Middle blocker Revelino Sandel added 10 points, including a match-high of 8 blocks.

In the third set, Mexico attempted a comeback after trailing 7-14, tying the score at 22, but Suriname’s insistent defense allowed them to force a fourth set.

Mexican head coach Óscar Viña said after the match: “The team lost focus due to Suriname’s excellent defense; they picked up every ball. It wasn’t a bad thing for them to feel pressure; they showed grit and closed the match with a wide margin in the final set. Tomorrow will be a tough match; Chile is a respected opponent, and we must have our strategy ready to finish first in the group.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025.- Chile earned its second consecutive victory at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Panama 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-17) on the second day of the tournament, at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

Chile remains undefeated with a 2-0 record in Pool B, while Panama is still seeking for its first win (0-2).

The Chilean team dominated the match with a powerful offense, outscoring Panama in attacks 48-24. They also led in blocks (7-5) and service points (3-0), although they committed 21 unforced errors compared to Panama’s 17.

Chilean opposite Joaquín Valjalo was the top scorer of the match with 19 points (18 attacks and one ace), followed by outside hitter Mateo Sanza, who contributed 12 points. For Panama, Wen Downer led with 11 points.

Chile will close the pool-play on Thursday against Mexico, while Panama will face Suriname.

Álvaro Del Campo, head coach of Chile: “We’re happy. The team is focused and enjoying the moment. It’s very important to be able to apply on the court what we’ve been training for so long, and we’re taking it step by step. Tomorrow we’re going all in against Mexico; we’re exactly where we set out to be”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – The United States earned its second consecutive win at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, sweeping Canada 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17) on day 2 of the tournament at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

The U.S. leads Pool A with a 2-0 record, while Canada drops to 1-1.

The Americans found their rhythm early, especially in the second set where they surged ahead with an eight-point lead at the technical timeout (16-8). Canada, however, mounted an impressive comeback to tie the score at 24, pushing the set into extra points before the U.S. closed it out.

Opposite hitter Corbin Batista led the U.S. offense with 12 points, while middle blocker Isiah Powell contributed 9 points, including three aces.

The United States showed dominance from the service line, outscoring Canada 9-2 in aces, 6-2 in blocks and committing fewer errors (25 to 33).  Canada held a narrow 30 to 29 lead in attack points.

Canada’s top scorer was outside hitter Mason Lange with 11 points, followed by opposite Jarom Rowin with 9.

The United States (2-0) will conclude pool play on Thursday against Puerto Rico (0-1), while Canada (1-1) will face Venezuela (1-1) in a decisive match for the next round.

Head Coach of the United States, Jonah Carson: “Canada is a quality team that plays the game really well and puts some nice pressure on us. Our team showed that they know how to solve problems and work the process. I am really proud of the way the guys are playing and the way the responded together as a team”.   

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – Venezuela celebrated its first victory at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup by defeating Puerto Rico in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-22) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.

With this result, Venezuela evens its record to 1-1 in Pool A, while Puerto Rico remains winless at 0-2.

The match was tightly contested point by point. Puerto Rico showed composure in the first two sets by coming back from behind but failed to hold on to an early 4-0 lead in the third.

Blocking was the key to Venezuela’s success, with a clear advantage of 14-7. They also led in service points 4-2. Puerto Rico had a slight edge in attacks 36-35. Venezuela committed 19 unforced errors, compared to 22 by Puerto Rico.

Top scorers of the match were Venezuela’s Jean Sanabria with 14 points and Gandy Lugo with 12. Middle blocker Harold Larez also stood out with a match-high of six effective blocks.

On Puerto Rico’s side, outside hitter Gustavo Pérez was the only player to reach double digits, finishing with 10 points.

Venezuela will close pool-play on Thursday against Canada, while Puerto Rico will face the United States. The team that finishes first in the pool will advance directly to the semifinals.

Venezuela’s Head Coach, Ivan Nieto, stated: “It wasn’t an easy win, the score doesn’t reflect what truly happened. The Puerto Rican team is very similar to ours; they have the same skill set and playing style. But today, the balance slightly tipped in Venezuela’s favor in terms of tactics. We were able to finish on defense, counterattacks, or transitions that were crucial, and that they (Puerto Rico) couldn’t close, especially after the 20-point mark. It was tight.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025. – Mexico got off to a strong start at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Panama in straight sets 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-14) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

The Mexican team opened the match with a commanding 5-0 lead, setting the tone for their first victory in Pool B of the tournament taking place from July 8 to 13 in Cuernavaca.

Mexico led in every skill of the game: kills (40-31), blocks (7-2), and aces (8-3). They also capitalized on 20 points from Panamanian errors, while conceding 14.

Team captain Carlos Grajeda led Mexico’s offense with 16 points, followed by opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado, who contributed 11 points.

For Panama, the top scorers were opposite Kendrieck Newby with 14 points and outside hitter Wen Downer with 12.

On the second day of competition, Mexico (1-0) will face Suriname (0-1), while Panama (0-1) takes on Chile (1-0).

Mexico’s Captain, Carlos Grajeda: “I’m very proud of the chemistry we showed, considering we’re all from different parts of Mexico and usually play against each other. The bond I felt with the team is very special. Our attitude really worked in our favor.”

Panama’s Captain, Kendrieck Newby: “The start of the tournament was very tough since we had to face the host team. Mexico has a strong squad that has been preparing for a long time. We are a young group that is building up little by little, and we’re improving. Panama won’t stay still, we’re going to move forward. Mexico defended much more than we did; they were more consistent in their defense.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025.– Chile swept Suriname 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-14) in their opening match of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca, Morelos.

In the first Pool B clash of the tournament, Chile controlled the rhythm from the start, outmatching Suriname with a significant 42-19 lead in attacks and an 8-3 advantage in blocks. Both teams scored two aces, while Chile committed 21 errors and Suriname 23.

Four Chilean players reached double figures in scoring: Mateo Sanz led with 14 points, followed by Joaquin Valjalo with 12, Gabriel Contreras and Francisco Briones with 10 points each.

For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar was the top scorer with eight points.

Chile will face Panama in their next match, while Suriname will meet host Mexico.

Chile Captain, Carlos Grajeda: “It was a good start. We have high expectations for this tournament; we want to reach the podium. This match allowed us to play our game and show our volleyball, which gives us more confidence for the upcoming matches”.

Suriname Captain, Kendreieck Newby: “We had a rough start. I think the city’s altitude affected us, since we live at 3 meters above sea level. We need to adjust and play better.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025.– Canada kicked off their U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory over Puerto Rico in a tightly contested Pool A match 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-20) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

The match was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, with Canada ultimately sealing the win despite a strong comeback attempt from Puerto Rico, who erased a 19-24 deficit, looking for a fourth set. Canada ultimately ended the game with a stuff block from middle blocker Simon Oberbuchner.

Canada’s powerful offense was key, outscoring Puerto Rico 41-22 in attacks. They also held a slight advantage in service points (5-2). Puerto Rico was more effective in blocks with seven against five and committed fewer errors (24-35).

Outside hitter Marcus Barrett and opposite Jarom Rowin led Canada’s scoring efforts with 11 points apiece. For Puerto Rico, Gustavo Alvarez scored seven points.

In their next matches, Canada (1-0) will face the United States (1-0), while Puerto Rico (0-1) looks to bounce back against Venezuela (0-1) as group play continues in Cuernavaca.

Team Canada captain, Marcus Barrett: “It was a great last set for the guys, and we came out super strong. I’m really happy how we played and starting with a win because it brings great energy to the team. I believe we have a shot of winning the tournament, we’ll go even stronger for our next matches.

Team Puerto Rico captain, Jean Paul Gonzalez: “It was a tough start. We had ups and downs, but with each game, we’ll gradually adjust to the new players on the team. In the end, we were more confident, and we need to believe more that we can do it.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025. – The United States recovered from a slow start to defeat Venezuela 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 32-30) in the opening match of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, taking place from July 8 to 13 at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

Competing in Pool A, both teams engaged in a thrilling contest where the U.S. bounced back after dropping the first set. Despite constant pressure from the Venezuelan side, the Americans sealed the win with a dramatic extended fourth set.

United States held a slight advantage in attack points, 52-48, and dominated with a huge 15-3 advantage in blocks. USA led in aces 5-4, but committed more unforced errors, 34 to Venezuela’s 30.

Middle blocker Isiah Powell of USA scored a match-high  of16 points, including 8 kills and 8 stuff blocks. Opposite hitter Corbin Batista added 15 points.

For Venezuela, outside hitter Gandy Lugo led with 14 points, all from kills.

In their next matches in Pool A, the United States will face Canada, while Venezuela goes up against Puerto Rico.

Team captain USA Brett Novak: “There are a lot of new guys in the team, so they were nervous in the first set and missed a lot of serves, we gave Venezuela a lot of points in that set. In the next two sets we were able to go on some pretty good runs. We love playing tight games, that last set is what we live for and coming out with the win is the greatest part”.  

Team captain Venezuela José Bello: “For eight of our players this is their first international experience. It was a great game for us; I am confident tomorrow we’ll come with more. The match was as expected facing the United States”.

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 7, 2025. – One day before the start of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, the coaches of the eight participating teams shared their thoughts and expectations for the tournament, which will take place from July 8 to 13 at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.

The event brings together promising youth talents from across the continent, offering them valuable international experience and the opportunity to continue developing within high-performance programs.

Jordan Taylor, Head Coach of Canada: “We had a training camp in Halifax; we trained a couple of times a day which is a big step for us versus last year’s competition. This year we have more continuity, so we feel a little bit more organized and prepared for competition. We’re bringing a younger squad, five returning players with NORCECA experience, for the majority, it’s going to be their first international competition, so it’s going to be a growth and learning event for these twelve athletes.”

Alvaro Del Campo, Head Coach of Chile: “The team is happy to be part of such an important international competition. We’ve been preparing with great dedication for several months. This is a group that’s been working together since last year’s South American tournaments. Our preparation included a tour to Uberlandia before coming to Mexico. We come with high expectations and the desire to compete against other countries.”

Oscar Viña, Head Coach of Mexico: “The team was built from the national championship. I selected players from the top four teams of that tournament, along with others with strong potential. We’ve been training here in Morelia for two weeks. The work has been solid; we may lack height compared to other teams, but I trust this group.”

Horacio Angulo, Head Coach of Panama first highlighted that Panama is making its return to this level of competition after more than a decade of absence: “Panama hadn’t competed in an event like this for over ten years, it’s very gratifying. We’re here to show that high-level volleyball is played in Central America. We’ll take it one match at a time and focus on our own game.”

Juan Albarrán, Head Coach of Puerto Rico: “The Pan American Cup is a great preparation tournament for the U19 World Championship in Uzbekistan. We’re taking this competition very seriously. The pool we’re in offers strong preparation, and we’re confident we can do a good job.”

Furgil Ong-A-Fat, Head Coach of Suriname: “Our preparation went well. We started at the end of January with 60 players. We played friendly matches against French Guiana, so we’re motivated. The team has experience from the NORCECA U19 in Puerto Rico, and we hope to improve our position.”

Jonah Carson, Head Coach of the United States: “This is a great opportunity for the development of our programs. We’ve got four players with previous international experience representing USA Volleyball. This is the first time USA Volleyball has been able to send a U19 team to both a Pan American Cup and a World Championship, so we have two distinct rosters. We’re looking to help accelerate the growth of our under-19 and coaching programs, and this is a nice first step in that. With the addition of the U17 category, we’re seeing something incredible develop here in NORCECA and globally.”

Iván Nieto, Head Coach of Venezuela, emphasized that this event is part of the country’s federation restructuring and youth development process: “This competition is part of the development cycle for these young athletes. Most of the group is inexperienced, and we hope to showcase the progress they’ve made during this recent phase of training. We’ve gone through changes in our national federation and are forming new work teams. This is an opportunity for the newly identified talents to demonstrate the rise of Venezuelan volleyball.”

CUERNAVACA, Morelos, Mexico, July 3, 2025. – A showcase of the next generation of volleyball talent is coming to Cuernavaca, as the NORCECA U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup takes center stage from July 8 to 13 at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).

The event will feature eight national teams from North, Central America and Caribbean NORCECA Volleyball Confederation and the South America Volleyball Confederation CSV battling for the Pan American title and a place among the region’s best. The tournament also plays a key role in shaping the competitive landscape ahead of future international championships.

NORCECA teams qualify for the 2026 NORCECA U19 Boys Continental Championship, which is part of the qualification process to the 2027 U19 FIVB Boys World Championship.

USA arrives as the team to beat, having captured back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023 undefeated. In both finals, they topped Mexico, who now seeks redemption and a chance to end their streak of three consecutive silver medals. Puerto Rico, bronze medalists last year, will also be aiming for a spot on the podium.

Teams are divided into two pools for the preliminary round: Pool A features Canada, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela, while Pool B consists of Chile, Panama, Suriname, and host Mexico.

Pool-play begins on July 8 with four daily matches, followed by quarterfinals on July 11, semifinals on July 12, and the final medal matches on Sunday, July 13.

Preliminary Round Schedule

July 8
14:00    USA vs Venezuela
16:00    Puerto Rico vs Canada
18:00    Chile vs Suriname

20:00    Mexico vs Panama

July 9
14:00    Puerto Rico vs Venezuela
16:00    USA vs Canada
18:00    Chile vs Panama

20:00    Mexico vs Suriname

July 10
14:00    Canada vs Venezuela
16:00    USA vs Puerto Rico
18:00    Suriname vs Panama

20:00    Mexico vs Chile

Year by Year podiums

Composite Medal Table